Turlock's first baby of 2018 was born 2:37 p.m. Monday to proud parents Elisa Aguilar and Cesar Jimenez. The bouncing baby boy, named Alonso, weighed in at 7-pounds-9-ounces and was 20.7 inches long at birth. He is the couple's fifth child. Jimenez said they were "excited" to have the first baby of the new year.

The unemployment rate for Stanislaus County stayed steady in November, remaining unchanged from the month prior, but still below the year-ago estimate, according to the latest report from the Employment Development Department.

The grief of losing a loved one comes in many forms, but for some, sharing that pain with others who have gone through similar experiences can help ease the heartache. For the past 10 years, Hilmar Covenant Church has provided a safe space where those who may be grieving can share their stories through GriefShare – a 13-week program for adults mourning the loss of someone close to them.

Every December, the Livingston United Methodist Church brings in hundreds of community members and volunteers for its annual Mochi Tsuki ceremony, a Japanese New Year's tradition that requires many hours of physical labor for the pounding of rice cakes.

Turlock Together's trademark blue barrels slowly disappeared from their locations at schools, fire stations and businesses around the city over the past week, as hundreds of volunteers worked tirelessly to sort, package and prepare for today's big event: distribution day.